MelRoy Place

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I have been a bit behind on my posting since the end of November - report cards, research proposals, birthdays and Christmas preparations took over my life. But now that it's the holidays, I have a chance to catch up and wrap up the year of the Film26 Project!
I can not believe that it has been a full year already! And I can't believe that I actually made it the whole way through! So without further ado... here is x, y, and z!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Only 3 letters left!! That means there is only 6 weeks left of 2012! Can you believe it? Things are ramping up here as we near the end of the first term of the school year (both at work and in my masters) which means paper writing, readings, plenty of marking and the dreaded report cards.

Still I am trying to get out to shoot some film because I feel like I have exhausted the 10 rolls that I took back in the summer. I knew that the fall would be busy so I tried to overshoot in the summer to give me lots to work with when things got crazy. I just finished a roll and though I usually wait until I have a few finished before I develop them (it saves on the cost), I might just go ahead and get it developed so I have something fresh for the next few letters.

I was so disappointed when I came across this church and had black & white film loaded because the statue on the top was gold and was shining in the sunshine like it was glowing! I decided to snap away anyway in the hopes that at least some of the light would still show up in black and white. The result isn't nearly as impressive as it was in real life.Montreal, QuebecTaken with my Olympus Pen F and Ilford HP5 Plus 400 film.

Monday, November 12, 2012

The sun returned here on the West Coast for a few brief days and the fall colours were still vibrant! With a 3 day weekend ahead of us, Jeffrey I decided to take advantage of the weather and head out to Van Dusen gardens.
Back in September when Jeffrey's parents were visiting, we took them around this beautiful garden oasis in the middle of the city. Since it isn't far from our home, we thought we should buy a membership so we could visit as much as we wanted! It has totally been worth it so far.
The pictures I took on this weekend's visit were all on film, so it will be awhile before I get them back, but it reminded me that I had a bunch of digital photos that I took from our visit with the in-laws. And I thought I should post some of them. It really is a gorgeous place.

How rude!

Oh my, that's a lot of bull!

The Helms at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park

These are actually taken at the gardens in Queen Elizabeth Park, but the flowers there were equally gorgeous.

I have to admit that I have a serious addiction to taking photos of the peaks of houses, buildings, etc. Anything where I am looking up. I have yet to master these types of shots though.Montreal, QuebecTaken with my Olympus Pen F and Ilford HP5 Plus 400 film.

Vote!

Please, please my dear American friends to the south - remember that a government is more that just an economy machine. They support the people of the country, they watch out for those who need protecting, they guide what it means to be a citizen of your country. Please vote with your hearts... the world needs more acceptance not more discrimination.For the Film26 Project.Portland, OregonTaken with my Pentax K1000 and Fuji Superia 400 film.

*This post was written pre-election results. Thank you American friends for giving me hope in a better future.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

This summer, my friend Mandy and I took a walking tour of the Orpheum Theatre here in Vancouver. The Orpheum has always been one of my favourite theatres in Vancouver... I even briefly considered getting married there (just in a whimsical day dream once). Every time I go there, I feel like I am transported back into a different time where the theatre was a place of elegance and imagination. Though the tour broke down much of the mystique around the theatre itself, and revealed that in fact, it isn't quite as regal as it would make itself out to be, I still love it - because the theatre, after all, is about make believe, and the Orpheum still makes me believe.

The grandiose ceiling mural and chandelier in the main theatre

The view from the other side of that ceiling...

It is basically a plaster dome that is suspended from the roof. This view is from above the ceiling, looking down through one of the hidden light holes. You can see the theatre seats below.
The mural also wasn't actually painted in the theatre itself. It was painted on a canvas, then applied to the ceiling afterward.

Wall sconce and lattice which hides acoustic paneling

Looking down towards the stage

In the lobby - chandeliers and detailing everywhere (detailing which is painted plaster)

Chandelier and gold painted detailed ceiling

The view from the stage - Probably the only time I will get this view of the Orpheum!

See those black circles on the mural? - those are the light holes from which I took the other picture

Well Orpheum - despite the plaster, and mish-mash of architectural eras, you still remain a grandiose and beautiful theatre in my eyes. I am so happy that Vancouver saved you.